A Simple Autumn: A Seasons of Lancaster Novel (45 page)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

In a big bowl, combine:

•
3 cups lard

•
5 cups sugar

Add:

•
5 eggs

Beat well. Add:

•
2½ cups milk

•
3 teaspoons vanilla extract

Stir in:

•
2 teaspoons baking soda

•
5 teaspoons baking powder

•
1 teaspoon salt

•
11–12 cups all-purpose flour

Stir until a soft dough forms. Lightly flour a surface and roll out the dough to approximately
½-inch thickness. Cut out shapes with cookie cutters or make round cookies with a
drinking glass. Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for ten minutes or until golden
brown.

The name of this pie and the fact that it contains lots of coconut won me over right
away. I find that adults like it more than children, and because it’s so sweet, a
little piece goes a long way. It probably got its name because of the filling’s resemblance
to the sawdust on the floors of Amish mills and woodshops. In
A Simple Spring
, Remy makes it for Adam, her woodworking beau.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Have your piecrust ready in a 9-inch pan. The crust should be crimped on the edges.

In a medium bowl, combine:

•
1½ cups shredded coconut

•
1½ cups graham cracker crumbs

•
1½ cups chopped pecans

•
1½ cups sugar

Mix in:

•
1 cup unbeaten egg whites (from 4–5 eggs)

Pour the filling into the unbaked pie shell. You may want to cover the edges with
foil if you don’t like a browned crust. Bake for 35–40 minutes. Don’t worry if the
pie seems moist inside when you take it out. Cool for at least 45 minutes to give
the pie a chance to set.

Although I wasn’t raised Amish, I loved making these cookies as a child—probably because
I didn’t have to wait around for them to bake and could lick the spoon. Some Amish
folk came to call them funeral cookies because they could be prepared quickly and
brought over to the grieving family. For me, turtles are a cross between fudge and
a cookie. I like to think they’re almost healthful with all that oatmeal. In
A Simple Winter
, Mary mentions these cookies to Remy while she is baking.

In a medium saucepan, combine:

•
½ cup butter

•
1¾ cups sugar

•
½ cup milk

•
5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Bring to a light simmer, stirring constantly for one minute.

Remove from heat and stir in:

•
½ cup peanut butter

•
1 teaspoon vanilla

•
⅛ teaspoon salt

•
3 cups rolled oats (or quick-cooking oatmeal)

Mix quickly and drop by teaspoons onto waxed paper. Let the cookies cool outside the
fridge for one hour. Makes about 3 dozen turtles.

For my mother
,
Susan Lauer Noonan
,
Who managed a large family with poise and good humor
And kept us all close in spirit
.
We love you
.

B
Y
R
OSALIND
L
AUER
A Simple Winter
A Simple Spring
A Simple Autumn